Center / Architecture + Design

Over the past three years, the Center for Architecture and Design has shifted its programming priorities in order to expand our K-12 educational program offerings. As part of our Strategic Plan, we asserted: We believe every student deserves access to design education. And we've been working hard to live up to our beliefs. We expanded our in-class Architecture in Education program, we offered more Saturday Family workshops on all types of design, and we strengthened our partnerships with other student-focused organizations to incorporate design education to as many young people as possible.

The Center provides Philadelphia with educational programs, exhibitions, and a public forum to explore architecture, urban planning, and design, allowing visitors the opportunity to understand how these disciplines affect us all in our daily lives. Using our city's distinctive breadth of architecture, pioneering urban design, and manufacturing heritage as the foundation for conversation, we educate the public through talks, exhibitions, publications, hands-on workshops, design competitions, festivals, and children's programming.

Show Philadelphia you value good design by supporting our ongoing efforts to educate students, residents, and visitors about the history and impact of Philadelphia's unique built environment, the designers who have shaped it, and to inspire the next generation of architects and designers! Support one or more of our educational programs and put your company or foundation's name in front of a targeted group of our annual program participants, including: students, parents, teachers, designers, architects, developers, contractors, engineers, tourists, and politicians.

The Center, located near Philadelphia's City Hall and just across the street from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, is easily accessible by foot, bike, bus, subway, regional rail, cab, + car. We have partnered with Parking Panda to allow visitors to purchase guaranteed parking nearby. First time customers receive a 15% discount. The Center may open early or stay open late on any day for public programs - see our calendar for details. We are open on the first Saturday of each month for our Free Design Workshops and may be closed to the public during regular hours on any day for private rentals.